Are they casting someone new for Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VII?

Firstly, a good source has told us that auditions are ongoing for key roles in the new film, and that more are taking place in the UK at the end of this month. Furthermore, we understand that one of the roles available is Princess Leia – or at least that’s what one or two of those auditioning are being told.

Carrie Fisher is pretty certain to reprise the role of Leia in Star Wars: Episode VII, so it may be that a younger version of the character is being cast for a flashback sequence, or perhaps as a daughter of Han and Leia. Obviously, we’re speculating there, and it may just be that what those auditioning are being told is a smokescreen of sort. We’ll find out in due course.

Flashbacks have never been used in a Star Wars film before. I’m not saying it can’t happen, anything can happen (the fact we’re getting a sequel trilogy at all is a testament to that). But it would seem to break what has come in the previous six films, which made prequels instead of flashing back at all. The only change we actually saw to the narrative of the films was visual and aural visions of Padme dying via Anakin in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Would they add something new like this for the last third of the trilogy? My instincts tell me no, but with Bad Robot really making this feature, it is a method they have used before in their storytelling endeavors.

If this report is accurate, I would guess they are looking for an actress in the spirit of the young Princess Leia. The daughter take on the whole issue makes more sense, since we know the film is ostensibly about the next generation. If you pretend you’re casting Princess Leia, you are able to cast the perfect daughter for Leia. At least, that’s my hope. I want Carrie Fisher in this movie if we have Leia returning.

This is likely to fan the flames of the recent rumors Star Wars: Episode VII takes place only a few years after Return of the Jedi. One rumor floating around was that the Rachel and Thomas characters are actually body doubles for Luke and Leia which are going to be augmented with CGI. You can’t make this stuff up, folks! I don’t buy it, but it is at the very least, an interesting rumor we will likely reminisce about in ten or fifteen years when we laugh about what we didn’t know during this era. I know I’ll often think of this era while I ride my hoverboard to work.